The only way out is through" - Robert Frost"
|
What is therapy anyways?
My goal as a psychotherapist is to create a safe space whereby building a relationship, unraveling issues, demystifying oneself, voicing hopes and dreams, and developing wisdom and insight, one can emerge from (and exist in) the forest that is life with a deeper understanding of how to navigate oneself and the world around us. Life is inherently difficult, and to many, therapy can be a place of comfort in times of crisis or difficult situations. However, while much of therapy involves a place to be heard, to those seeking self-actualization, we engage in this process with the aim of equipping you with the tools needed to endure future hardships in an imperfect world where negative experiences and events are outside of our control. We call this "psychological flexibility", and the process to attain it takes work. Therapy, in which we seek change, involves bypassing the thoughts, emotions, and stories that have collectively enforced our negative behaviors and consequently created a false concept of who we are. I believe the concept of "who we are" has less to do with our thoughts and history, but rather more with who we want to be. By committing ourselves to live to our values and goals, despite how difficult they might be, we can live a life that is gratifying, authentic, rich, purposeful, and well-adapted. |
Academically, scientific guidelines for success do exists for therapy - cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, etc - all which come with an extensive list of techniques and models that can be summoned upon to work best for different symptoms and issues. However every therapist knows that at the core of psychotherapy, acting as a catalyst for change, is something that can’t be accurately measured – human empathy and unconditional support. It is through this mix of a therapeutic relationship, objective reasoning, and research-based methods, that we can embark in the journey of self-actualization together. Some of the challenges I help treat are: Stress, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, medication adherence, sexuality & gender, LGBTQ issues, HIV, career struggles, Men's Issues, Immigrant and cultural issues, low self-esteem, peer relationships, racial and ethnic identity, grief, spirituality, and suicidality. |
